Volunteering

Promote This Nonprofit

Nonprofit Overview

Mission: Saving lives and advancing research by empowering those living with and at risk for lung cancer.

Results: Over the past year, more than 12,000 personal telephone calls and email requests were managed by our professional and caring staff, delivering customized support packets to improve outcomes. We also expanded a network of 1,500 medical facility contacts nationwide who share our educational support materials to the newly diagnosed and their loved ones so that they know they are not alone and we are here to help.
We launched efforts to educate the millions at high risk about their life-saving options, encouraging conversations with their doctors about early detection. To date, more than 300 medical facilities have joined our coalition to make sure that screening is done right and well at centers of excellence across the U.S.
We have trained thousands of advocates to educate elected and public health officials about the disease, securing almost $90 million to date in public health dollars for research and early detection. Because we do not accept public funding, and these dollars fund research directly, we are able to leverage your support at least 10-fold.
We also launched the first nationwide awareness campaign addressing the stigma of lung cancer head-on. With more than 300 million impressions to date, the campaign continues to grow over social media channels. Learn more at: www.NoOneDeservesToDie.org.
These combined efforts will help meet our vision of reducing lives lost to lung cancer by half by 2020. With your continued help and support, we will achieve this realistic and attainable goal.

Target demographics: The milions living with or at risk for lung cancer

Direct beneficiaries per year: At least 12,000

Geographic areas served: Nationwide

Programs: Community& Support Services Program:
Providing free, one-on-one support, information, and referrals to patients, at risk individuals and their loved ones through telephone and online support services, delivering customized education packets to make informed decisions and improve outcomes.
Education Program:
Conducting national awareness campaigns, including No One Deserves to Die, National Shine A Light on Lung Cancer Vigil, Team Lung Love and Give A Scan to educate the public about the facts, dispel myths, and share calls to action to eliminate stigma, increase research funding and save lives.
Health Policy Program:
Advocating for multiple millions in public health dollars for lung cancer research and early detection through a nationwide grassroots network of volunteer chapters, advocates and targeted policy strategies.

Community Stories

142 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

Share experience with this nonprofit today

As a lung cancer survivor I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend a Survivor meeting last September. When I arrived I was met by a group of extremely dedicated and caring staff members. Each attendee was made to feel as if they had known each other for years thereby allowing for a free exchange of information regarding individual stories. The Alliance is extremely proactive and is constantly pushing for a wider population of individual to be screened earlier for lung cancer. As a result of the positive atmosphere I was immersed in, before I even left the meeting I volunteered to be a Phone Buddy for the Alliance so that I can assist the newly diagnosed overcome any fear that they may have. BEST meeting that I ever attended!

I wish I had done more research and had known about Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) when my stepdad was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in October 2008. In the years since he passed away on April 1, 2009, I have learned just how much critical work this dynamic nonprofit does for (most importantly) the people suffering from this awful disease, their family and loved ones, and their caretakers; advocating for more research and access to treatment; and carrying out public service campaigns to educate us all. LCA's work to dispel the myths associated with lung cancer have been particularly powerful for me. This organization is a shining example of what a health-related nonprofit can do to personally support those affected while lobbying for the resources to combat a devastating disease.

I have worked with Lung Cancer Alliance since 2013 .
They brought the first Lung Love Walk to Houston, Tx. I lost my Mom in 2013 to Lung cancer, and helping put this walk together has helped me so much. I am so greatful to everyone at Lung Cancer Alliance, they are making a difference and are amazing to work with. I plan to volunteer with this wonderful organization for years to come!

My mother was diagnosed with stage 3B lung cancer in 2004. She underwent surgery and radiation treatment, passing 15 months after diagnosis, in August of 2006. The Alliance not only helped me during this very difficult time by providing me with resources to be a better caregiver to not only my young children, but also to my ailing mother as well as my father, who was rundown from being the primary caregiver himself. The Alliance continues to help provide me with medical developments which I keep abreast of so I can monitor how modern science is helping to find a cure. I also use the site as a staple to harness volunteer opportunities so I may stay involved in the fight that took my mother's and so many others' lives. We must beat this disease and with organizations like the Lung Cancer Alliance, we will!!

Our son is living with stage IV lung cancer. He has the ALK tumor. He is a young husband and father of a three year old son. Believe me the support this group gives us is so important. Its' articles and drive to make new discoveries and funding for lung cancer gives us so much hope. Helping it reach its goals also gives us purpose. Our first experience was through Shine a Light last November. We are now hosting our own event. Thank you so much for your support.

Shortly after my lobectomy for a 1cm adenocarcinoma,I learned of the program the Lung Cancer Alliance was doing eith CT scans. I was so impressed that i wrote them to learn more about it. I gladly sent my CT scan to them for the use of training purposes for physicians. What a wonderful use never to be needed CT scans to help other patients!

Lung Cancer Alliance is a wonderful organization for the needs and resources for lung cancer patients.

I have been involved with the LCA since I attended the 2014 Survivor Summit. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a survivor. Since I am one of the 17% who did survive, I have felt a need to give back and support other survivors and help educate others about this terrible disease. The LCA gave me useful information to speak about and the experience visiting Capitol Hill and meeting with representatives was invaluable. I also have met a group of wonderful advocates and their dedication and passion have inspired me to do more. I hope to continue working with them and the LCA in the future.

Every interaction I've ever had with the Lung Cancer Alliance has been an exceptional one. The staff is very knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and timely. They live up to their mission and do such important work. I cannot express how great an organization they are!

I have been involved with the Lung Cancer Alliance for over 8 years. I am a 16 year survivor of stage 3 non small cell cancer. I have found help with my own issues involving treatment and survivorship. Over the years. Have volunteered to be a phone buddy, moderator of the lung Cancer Alliance support site and just to carry the torch for this organization.

Previous Stories

I am a 13 year lung cancer survivor who has been involved with the LCA for over 7 years. First I was given support by the many caring individuals that make up this organization. I have since giving back to other lung cancer survivors through this organization. I also have seen them push for legislative measures to support the research funding for this much maligned disease.

I have received emotional and social support from the Lung Cancer Alliance since 2004. Also, I have volunteered as a phone counselor, community educator, survivor speaker, and fundraiser for them since 2005. The Lung Cancer Alliance is the voice of lung cancer survivors-fighting stigma, advocating for early testing and changing public policy, etc. I can't say enough about how grateful I am that they exist and how vital they are to ongoing research, treatment, prevention, and advocacy for lung cancer patients and their families.

Previous Stories

When I was diagnosed with Stage 2 non small cell lung cancer in 2004, I discovered the Lung Cancer Alliance. I was happy to find an advocacy organization that supported lung cancer survivors and their families, especially since the American Cancer Society was still stigmatizing those diagnosed with lung cancer and doing nothing to assist them. As each year passed, I realized that I had a life to live and have volunteered with the Lung Cancer Alliance to be a Phone Buddy, speaker at Shine A Light in Northern California, and Advocacy Chair in the first Lung Love Run/Walk In Berkeley CA. The Lung Cancer Alliance gets my vote every time because of their tireless efforts on a national level on behalf of survivors, their friends and families, and those at high risk. I'm an example of long-term survival due to early detection and applaud the Lung Cancer Alliance for its valiant work to save lives and increase the survival rate of this deadly disease.

Lung Cancer Alliance was offering support and resources for all affected by lung cancer, as well as advocating for change on Capitol Hill long before any other organization was. They offer free support to all who need it, educate the public, and have successfully written legislation to forward progress toward screening and pathway to funding and a cure. Kudos to an organization with both integrity and heart.

Our daughter was diagnosed with "stage 3a non-small-cell" lung cancer at the age of thirty five. A mother of three, she was faced with no hope for survival beyond an unlikely one or two years and that would be even with chemo treatments and close doctor care.
Introduce a brilliant young surgeon who wanted to try to save her life by performing a very difficult, very risky surgery that would involve removing 2/3 of her right lung and whatever else that might already have been touch by the cancer. She considered the quality of life but knew she did not want to leave her kids motherless and wanted to see them grow as any loving, devoted mother would. She opted to risk the surgery and the brilliant young surgeon pulled it off flawlessly.
Get this!!! That particular surgery was seven years ago!!! Although our daughter is still on chemo pills, she has seen two of her kids start college with the third in high school. She continues to be very active, going to sporting events of the kids and other activities such as shopping, pursuing a hobby and living each day to the fullest to the best of her ability.
Early on we became aware of Lung Cancer Alliance and have been to "Shine a Light" events where our daughter spoke and her sisters are advocates and speak also. One sister (and nephew) have been to Washington advocating with LCA. We've had the opportunity to help place flags on our town's Court House Square, which our local LCA chapter arranged. We intend to do this again in November. Shine a light events help to increase awareness about Lung Cancer and the terrible number of people afflicted by it and affected it. These events enable those affected by lung cancer to come together and share their stories, meet others affected and support one another.
I hail Lung Cancer Alliance for their relentless efforts to bring about awareness relevant to lung cancer and for their tremendous work in getting our elected officials involved in getting federal funding for lung cancer research, which is making great strides. Before LCA's push there was very little being done for the advancement in research for this disease (incidentally, lung cancer kills more victims each year than the next four leading killing cancers combined). We have learned so much by reading LCA materials and getting involved and are grateful for their commitment.
Every day we our thankful that our daughter is still with us and also thank LCA for their great work for this cause. We, as the victim's parents, consider ourselves "Clients" rather than "General Members of the Public" because LCA has helped us so much by being there for us.

As an oncology nurse I find the Lung Cancer Alliance priceless. The information they share not only with the healthcare community, but the general population is so comprehensive and evidenced-based, that we can rely on them for our information. Since the USPTF approved lung cancer screening in 2015, the Lung Cancer Alliance has helped healthcare organizations to wade through the ruling and the payer issues, to get lung cancer screening out to the public in an efficient and timely manner. I find the Lung Cancer Alliance a valuable resource. Gean Brown MSN, RN, OCN

After my mom passed away of lung cancer and my friend's mom also passed four months after, she found a Shine the Light vigil put on by the LCA which we attended. After that, we wanted to be more involved and decided to start a Shine the Light vigil in our part of town. Later on we wanted to know of walks that were put on by the LCA in Houston and we found none. It was then that we decided to start one and put the vigil on hold. Since then, we contacted Lanni with LCA and after speaking to her she came to Houston and met with us and a few other volunteers. Our journey started! with the collaboration, we are proud to have the FIRST Lung Love Walk in Houston on November 8, 2014 and we have raised more than half of what our original goal was! We have the volunteers all willing to help and put this walk together but it could not have been possible without the guidance of LCA, for this I am thankful that we have found not just someone to walk us through the process, but an organization that offers support, awareness, and such to volunteers, caregivers and more importantly to survivors. We want to be part of an organization that wants to END THE STIGMA and make people aware that lung cancer is the deadliest cancer and YET the least funded. I speak for many who have worked to put this walk in saying that I am thankful for LCA. Thanks again!

I found this organization after my sister was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Sadly she passed away 2 years ago. I was able to find support, ask questions & get educated from their site. I am also a runner so I signed up with Team Lung Love. You can run any race anytime & collect donations for LCA. These people have never hounded me for anything. They have wonderful support & give all they have to those in need. They are pushing hard in Washington for better screening so people can get diagnosed sooner & have a chance to live. So glad I found them & thank you so much for all you do.

I became acquainted with LCA in 2010, several months after my husband passed away quickly from stage 4 lung cancer. I sincerely wish that the hospital staff would have known of LCA and shared their resources with me. In the past 4 years I have been part of one amazing experience after another as part of the LCA family, advocating for public awareness and supporting others going through this horrific journey.

Last year a friend of ours invited us to a candle vigil for lung cancer and we had nothing else that night so we joined her. Well we listened to personal life experiences, a medical professional and got some education. My husband was a heavy smoker at that time and had been having some breathing issues. So we got him into the doctors office armed with a request for specific testing (not normally done) and yes a few small spots were discovered. After months of follow up the spots were found to not be cancer-however my husband is well on his way to being a nonsmoker and other health issues were discovered in the process. We read the emails we signed up to receive, act on events-requests as best we can, pass on information and are forever grateful that the vigil, speakers and information were available for us at a cost of only our time. You are helping so many people as I know there are a lot more stories out there that are happening right now but are not being told. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!! Debbie and John

The LCA is the single organization I know that is always rolling up its sleeves, as it were, to pitch against lung cancer. The staff is tireless and focused, and anyone who has been involved with the LCA, as I have since my wife died four years ago, can already see the progress in awareness, screening, and reduced stigmatization of lung cancer victims. Needless to say, there is a long way to go until lung cancer is given the national attention it deserves, and the task seems like the labor of Sisyphus, but when the day arrives that it is, it will be the LCA that will finally push that rock to the top of the hill--and it won't roll back down.

My mom survived lung cancer. She is now healthy and happy. She still has a picture of all of us walking for her, with her, a few years ago at a Lung Cancer Alliance walk in San Diego. The walk brought hope to our family and we are forever grateful.

We are so glad to hear your mother is doing well! Please know that we are always here for you and your family. Hope to see you at a Shine a Light in November (http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/shine-a-light-on-lung-cancer.html)!